Faced with the repetition of heatwave episodes, the Social Union for Housing (USH) is proposing to generalize shutters and air blowers in social housing.
The increase in episodes of extreme heat forces social landlords to accelerate the adaptation of housing. According to the USH (Social Union for Housing), theinstallation of shutters and ceiling fans in the metropolitan family social park would represent an investment of 8.6 billion euros.
Facing the “repetition of heatwaves, we will have to intervene quickly“, declared Emmanuelle Cosse, president of the USH, during a press conference. The manager also announced that she had “formalized” A “action plan for the habitability of social housing in the event of extreme heat” : THE “quick, common sense and effective solutions“consist of”consolidate the installation of an air fan, at least in one room, and put back shutters everywhere“, explained Emmanuelle Cosse.
Only 56% of HLM housing equipped with solar protection
According to the USH studiesonly 56% of HLM housing has solar shading. “A problem“, according to Emmanuelle Cosse, while episodes of heat repeat themselves.
The situation is even more marked regarding air fans, also called ceiling fans: barely 3% of social housing is currently equipped with them. © IA / Laure Pophillat
The USH therefore wishes to accelerate the deployment of these two pieces of equipment, considered as solutions to quickly improve the habitability of homes during periods of extreme heat.
The cost of this adaptation is, however, significant. L’installation of shutters is estimated between 2,875 and 3,500 euros per accommodation, depending on the number of windows concerned. You have to add between 300 and 500 euros for theinstallation of an air fan. On the scale of the metropolitan family social network, the addition thus reaches 8.6 billion euros, an estimate excluding:
– social residences,
– senior and student residences,
– and, finally, social housing located overseas.
The needs are obviously particularly important in areas most exposed to extreme heat. For housing located in areas of the south of France and in large cities, considered priority, the cost is estimated at 2.8 billion euros.
Financing the work as a central issue
For the USH, theadaptation to high heat must, however, be part of a more substantial program of transformation of the social park. “This is an important issue, but one which is added to all the other issues of renovation of the park, of adaptation to aging“, recalled Emmanuelle Cosse. President of the USH thus points out the lack of reflection on the financing of this workwhile social landlords already have to face other significant needs for renovation and adaptation of their stock.
Additionally, this announcement comes as demand for social housing continues to grow. During the presentation of HLM congresswhich will take place from September 22 to 24 in Bordeaux, Emmanuelle Cosse indicated that 2.9 million households were waiting for social housing as of June 31. This number increases by 2.7% compared to the end of 2025, even if the increase in the number of applicants slows down.
At the same time, the production of social housing should remain in 2026 at a level close to that recorded in 2025, with around 102,000 new housing units.
© Magnific
